Ceviche

Ceviche is a soup with a citricy, tomato base that is served all over Ecuador.  In different regions it is made a little differently.  On the coast I ate it with shrimp, here in Tumbaco I have been served it with fish.  Other places serve it with chicken or beans.  Here is a recipe from my host mom…

•    The juice of 8 oranges
•    2 onions thinly sliced
•    2 lemons
•    a handful of cilantro
•    4 tomatoes finely chopped
•    ½ cup ketchup
•    2 Tablespoons olive oil
•    1 Teaspoon chicken broth packet
•    Fish/Shrimp/Chicken/Beans (whatever you like)

Juice the oranges and set aside.  Boil fish (or shrimp/chicken/beans).  Combine onions, salt, cilantro, and lemons.  Let stand for 20 minutes so the lemon can take the bitterness out of the onions.  Add tomatoes, ketchup, olive oil, chicken broth packet, and orange juice.  Add fish and a little of the water it cooked in.


Serve with popcorn and fried plantains.  To fry plantains – cut plantains into inch thick chunks and fry in vegetable oil.  Once softened (but still pretty firm) take out and smash.  Placed smashed plaintains in a bowl of cold, salty water.  Add to oil and fry for a second time until crispy.

Enjoy!